Printer-Friendly Format     E-mail this article     Maurice Crum Jr. was one of 26 linebackers named to the Bednarik Award Watch List.

Fifth-year senior linebacker one of 75 players named to preseason list for top defensive player in college football

July 2, 2008

ROSLYN, Pa. - Notre Dame linebacker Maurice Crum Jr. was named to the watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday. Crum was one of 75 players selected to the preseason list for the award presented to college football's outstanding defensive player.

Crum was one of 26 linebackers to make the list and one of 20 seniors at his position mentioned. The 6-0, 230-pounder enters 2008 with 241 career tackles, needing 54 stops to enter Notre Dame's top-10 list for career tackles. Crum has started every game over the past three seasons and holds Notre Dame's longest active streak among current players for most consecutive games played and started (37). A 2008 graduate of Notre Dame with a degree in sociology, Crum was voted captain for the 2008 season becoming just the 17th two-time football team captain in school history.

The Bednarik Award has been presented since 1995 and is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, a former University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Eagle great. Semifinalists for the award will be announced in early November and three finalists for each award will be announced Nov. 25. The winner of the Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show in December. The formal presentation will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Harrah's Entertainment Atlantic City on March 6, 2009.